Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup – September 28, 2025
Which NHL superstar is most likely to play for a new team? What’s the latest on Jake Walman’s contract talks with the Oilers? Will the Maple Leafs trade David Kampf this season? Find out in the Sunday NHL Rumor Roundup.
SPORTSNET: Michael Amato recently looked at which four NHL superstars are most likely to be on a new team next season.
Amato noted the trade rumors swirling around Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov, and Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes.
Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (NHL Images).
The rumors about McDavid and Kaprizov are mostly based on their eligibility for unrestricted free-agent status next July and the lack of progress in contract extension negotiations with their respective teams.
Crosby is in the first season of a two-year contract with the rebuilding Penguins. Speculation suggests he could grow weary of another lost season and request a trade to a contender.
Hughes entered the rumor mill after Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations, said in May that the 25-year-old defenseman would one day like to play with his brothers, Jack and Luke, who both play for the New Jersey Devils.
Of the four, Amato considers Hughes the most likely to be playing elsewhere next season. McDavid isn’t likely to find a better opportunity to win the Stanley Cup elsewhere. Kaprizov is the Wild’s franchise player, and they don’t want to lose him. Crosby remains determined to stay in Pittsburgh.
The Canucks will want to know next summer if Hughes intends to sign a contract extension. Last season was a nightmare for the club, and they face an uphill climb to create an environment and situation that will make him want to stay.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: A lot can happen for all four players that could convince them to move on. Nevertheless, Hughes’ situation makes him the most likely of the group to be playing elsewhere next season. It will take a significant bounce-back performance by the Canucks this season to convince him that this team can be a serious contender.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Kurt Leavins believes contract extension talks between the Oilers and defenseman Jake Walman have gone well, and that the two sides are close on a long-term deal. He thinks an eight-year contract has been discussed, but a six-year deal is more likely.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Walman, 29, is in the final season of a three-year contract with an average annual value of $3.4 million.
The Oilers have a projected $42 million in cap space for 2026-27. Taking into account the high cost of re-signing Connor McDavid, they will have enough to sign Walman to a lucrative extension worth up to $5.5 million annually.
THE ATHLETIC: Jonas Siegel reports David Kampf’s days with the Toronto Maple Leafs may be numbered. The 30-year-old forward spent the offseason expecting to be traded, but it never happened.
Kampf has been replaced as fourth-line center by Scott Laughton. He said it’s up to management if he’s still a fit with the Leafs. His spot on the club is in further jeopardy with promising forward Easton Cowan in line to make the team.
Siegel speculates Kampf could end up clearing waivers and getting demoted rather than traded. He pointed to his $2.4 million AAV as being “just large enough to be unattractive”.
So I read recently that Walman’s camp only came to the table in the last weeks to negotiate an extension. They just signed Podz last week.
Friedman has been indicating a McDavid extentsion may come in shockingly low on a shorter term (what that means who knows. Is it 16 is 14, is it less?)
The whole waiting thing is odd for Connor…I think we can all agree there and allnof theories are floated.
But what if he is waiting on Bowman to lock up the key pieces…of which Walman then Ekholm are next (goalies they may hold off on for obvious reasons) and then Bowman and McDavid’s team sit down and talk about a number that is respectful to Mcdavid while leaving money on the table to ensure the team can address needs and are not handcuffed in making moves.
And that number what ever it is…indicates how much term comes with it. The lower the salary the lower the term?
I dont know? I feel every other week my theory sounds as plausible as the EA sports style trade proposals some float out hahaha
Back to Sunday chores
“Daria Tuboltseva: Re Evgeni Kuznetsov: “The Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers are both actively considering the possibility of signing the 33-year-old forward” – RG (9/27)
Kuzzy on a 1-yr deal could happen soon.
Evgeni Kuznetsov to the Panthers makes some sense considering they’ve lost Aleksandar Barkov for the season due to knee surgery, however, the Maple Leafs make absolutely zero sense as an option, as they have a crowded forward group and are trying to move out David Kampf, Nick Robertson, and Calle Jarnkrok ahead of the start of this season.
Don’t know much about the overall game of 30 y/o David Kamp, but over 536 career games to date he has 82-game averages of 7g 15a 22 pts as primarily a 4th line C. And with players in that range usually costing between $950,000 and $2 million off the cap, his $2.4 mil per with this season and next to run is probably a bit more than teams needing a 4th line C are interested in acquiring.
And that, in a way, includes the Leafs since the guy they’re using for that position is 31 y/o Scott Laughton who, over 681carrer gp, has better 82-game averages of 13g 19a 32pts, and he costs almost $1 mil less off the cap ($1.5) and is a UFA at season’s end.
Unless Kampf is turning heads so far in the preseason it wouldn’t surprise me to see him placed on waivers, and clearing … unless Treleving can wrangle a trade by withholding $1 mil of his annual cap hit for 2 seasons.
That would also clear the way to add Kuznetsov.
Sam, Ron, Yogi? (come on back, man)
Re Crosby and: “Speculation suggests he could grow weary of another lost season and request a trade to a contender.”
Replace “could” with “will”
and add “more” between “grow” and “weary”
Zero chance Crosby is happy with status quo
Re Leafs and demoting Kampf and replacing with Cowan:
No secret here that I am the furthest thing from being a Leaf fan; but Treyliving doing that is absolutely correct. 100%
Dubas take note!!! Pens need to demote Hayes and Accairi and either bring up ANY 2 fwds from WBS; OR sign ANY 2 new UFA fwds; OR do 1 new UFA, 1 new WBS up
Fabbri alone is a no brainer replacement for either Hayes or Accairi
Keeping Hayes and playing him can easily be used as “exhibit A” in the future deliberate tanking case against Dubas
8787. Curious. Was there any talk of a rebuild before Syd signed extension? As of now none of the highly rumored trades of EK, Rust, or Rakell have materialized. Until Dubas starts selling, there’s no point in talking Crosby trades.
Vancouver on the other hand have locked up core for future. I think Hughes stays. IMO, Kiril most likely to move on. He’s already turned down a very generous extension.
There was zero talk (from Penguins) regarding a rebuild prior to Sid’s extension. Zip.
Media had rumbled about it “coming” in next few years (that’s media rumblings in summer of ‘24 ; prior to Sid re-upping) but definitely NOT from Penguins
The opposite was true in fact.
Dubas (a day or two after Sid re-upped; AND at least a couple of times during ‘24/25 season; AND right after June’s draft) publicly stated that he was making moves to get team competitive and towards being in the playoffs within the time-frame of Crosby’s extension (that’s literally within the next 19 months).
Dubas made these public statements/commitments just after Sid re-upped (remember, Sid waited until September, and signed again at $8.7 M [below market value]). Doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist to figure out why Sid was waiting to re-up (waiting for Dubas to promise to make team competitive and geared towards making playoffs within 25/26 and 26/27 (Sid’s extension) because Sid didn’t want to finish his career with 5 straight years out of the playoffs)
Dubas has also said the roster intentions are to get younger and faster and in the last 3 weeks hd said that veterans are not guaranteed a spot, and that decisions for roster will be based on talent and not Cap hit and/or number of years in league
If Dubas allows EITHER Hayes or Accairi is on roster this year; the headline must read “Liar Liar , pants on fire”
All summer the media has been saying that Dubas is expected to move EK and at least one of Rust or Rakell to gain at a minimum (between 2 trades) at least two young current NHLers
However, as usual, Dubas has zero true feel for market value; over-priced his ask (and limited his commitment on retention) and has (now that we’re already in pre-season) missed the golden window for big moves
I’d say that at the time Sid re-upped; there was a 99.9 % chance he’d end his career here
Even just after this past draft; with Dubas’ public statements; I’f say it was still 95%
Now that pre-season is on; and with Dubas doing absolutely zero of what he promised; and after Brisson’s statements; I’d sadly put odds of Crosby finishing his career here at 50% max
If Pens are bottom 7 at TDL; I’d be surprised if odds were as high as 10%
8787, I’ll say this succinctly:
You. Weren’t. There.
You were not present for any conversation between Dubas and Crosby.
You have no idea what Crosby is thinking.
What you have is your own personal conjecture that you are incessantly passing off as fact.
What I just posted is not open for debate. No retort is needed. No repetition of what you have typed (at length) dozens of times (or maybe it just seems that way) is needed.
Just stop acting as if you live in Crosby’s head. At least throw in an “I think…”, or maybe an “I heard…” but passing you opinion off as a first hand account is tiresome.
Only Crosby knows what he is going to do and everyone else will have to wait see what future he wants.
Why would Dubas say something publicly , just after Sid’s signing (where he had waited all summer to do so) BUT NOT have said it to Sid??
I will use the word you were searching for
I THINK it would be basically (call it one in a trillion) impossible that Dubas didn’t share with Crosby (48 hours earlier; and prior to his signing) the same public commitment he made (to bettering team towards the goal of playoffs before Crosby’s extension ends)
I THINK Crosby would have loved that commitment. I THINK the odds that he didn’t like the news are in line with the odds of the sun not setting in the West somewhere on the planet, tomorrow
I THINK that anybody who believes Crosby is OK with spending his last 5 years out of the playoffs ; also believes that no player ever wants to win the cup
Some old guy: it is crystal clear that 8787 was stating his own opinion. As you asked he’s twice typed “I’d say.” How is that presuming he’s in Crosby’s head?
You’re entitled to not like his posts. But get it right when you call him out.
And when you say you’re going to be succinct, do so without banging on for 6 more paragraphs.
Honestly, that’s actually better. Although, I wasn’t searching for anything, just offering suggestions on making it clear that you aren’t involved in any clandestine conversations . You aren’t speaking (or typing) as if you first hand knowledge of a professional athlete’s thoughts and intentions when you include such language. You can think (capitalization not needed, by the way) what you want. Offer opinions as such and not implied facts. That might help round the edges on your repeated square peg, round hole posts, and make them a tad more palatable.
Never understood the attraction with Mien Kamp and certainly thought he was over paid. A league minimum is more in line for his contributions
Can’t see anyone picking him off waivers . Does he get $2.4 in the AHL.?
A lot of league pressure on MCD. He sets the bar and in my opinion should sign first .
Wallman is a nice player. Keep in mind he was kicked around a little bit in his career. $5m feels like a Little much for a 4-5 D. Not my money
If David Kämpf is waived and sent to the AHL, he not only still gets his $2.4 mil, but the Leafs would still be on the hook for a portion of his $2.4 million cap hit. According to Puckpedia, only the “burying threshold” of $1.15 million can be saved when a player is sent to the minors; the difference between Kämpf’s salary and this threshold, which is $1.25 million, would remain as a cap hit on the Maple Leafs’ books.
Which is why I suggested Treleving might withhold $1 mil if a team was prepared to take him off their hands.
Kampf is an underrated player in Toronto and Laughton is the shiny new object.
Kampf takes a higher % of Dzone faceoffs and wins more of them.
His overall defensive game is better, he’s more physical. Head to head analytics shows Kampf is worth more than Laughton.
Over the summer I was saying the Habs should go for him as Toronto was rumored to want to get rid of him.
He’s a consistent bottom six guy, solid forecheck, pk, physical player who takes few penalties.
With the difference between playoff hockey and regular season, I’d rather the Canucks move Quinn then see them try to bring his two brothers here to Van, I watch as Jack can’t stay healthy during the regular season I don’t see him as a playoff type of player, so I’d move Quinn now and get what they can which would be a lot, the Canucks aren’t in the top 1/2 of the league and know where near the top 5, they should start rebuilding now with there eye set on a deep playoff run from 2030-35
Bill,I highly doubt the Hughes Brothers end up in Vancouver.